Hello. Yesterday I was walking back home through the park with my 2 kids, Liam and Steffi, and Gia. I met this woman, she has a 14m bullmastiff cross staff, pretty big bitch. I never liked the bitch too much because about 2 months ago I met the woman in the pet shop, we were talking then this man came in and the bitch barked viciously at him, me and the pet shop owner were a bit scared...Anyway, yesterday she had the bitch on a halti - that I suggested- but she was off the lead. My kids run ahead of us playing and the bitch charged at Steffi, grabbed her by the coat and started swinging her around like a rag doll. I didn't realised how serious it was at first, until my daughter fell and the bitch wouldn't let go, the woman run shouting and hitting the bitch and she only let go when I shouted and hit her with the lunch box, the woman could not get the bitch, she was still rounding Steffi and wouldn't go away. The woman managed to get her in the end and I was in shock and so mad, at the same time felt sorry for the woman(!!), because the bitch wasn't growling or anything, just playing really rough and is not obedient at all. I think the woman cannot handle the bitch and has no authority over her. I wanted to get away from both the bitch and the woman, she asked how much was Steffi's coat (arm all shredded) and I said I just wanted to get home. Well, the woman would not leave me alone, walked all the way to the end of the park with me and the kids, me trying to get away saying get this dog away, please. The woman then said the bitch had done the same thing to a boy the week before!!!! Then I lost any sympathy for her and just said "you should keep the bloody bitch on the lead & halti all the time!!!". She was really embarassed and went the other way. Steffi is ok but she sobbed so much she couldn't cry properly, but I honest think she was more upset because of her coat. I have talked to a lot of parents that go through the park if they see this bitch not to go near. Last night I couldn't sleep because I felt so guilty I couldn't protect my little girl, I had acid on my stomach and so much anger. I hope now the woman keeps the bitch on the lead, but do you think I should do something about it? Like get someone to talk to the woman and take the bitch to training classes, etc?
By the way, I read the thread about would your dog protect you & your family... well, Gia didn't even notice anything was going on!
Many thanks for "listening", I had to get it out.
Val xxxx

Val, what a headspinner than must have been :( I hope your little Steffi is okay and 'deals' with it.
That owner should go on a training course herself from the sounds of things!! :rolleyes:.....it makes me laugh, these owners who insist on having strongwilled dogs, they don't train them properly, ket them dominate them and then wonder why things like this happen
You're right to be angry and upset........ it could have been much worse :( :(

Hello, Sooz. I agree the bitch is definetly the boss, she is very dominant. I just talked to this friend, she said the bitch belonged to the owner's daughter who couldn't care for her anymore(don't know why). I once had a very dominant dog also but I wouldn't dream of letting him off the lead. The thing is, it wasn't the first time the bitch did what she did, the owner knew the bitch could do the same thing again. I am worried if the bitch is not controled she will snap someday at a kid maybe, as I said before she did at this man and it was scary.
Steffi is ok, I hope she will forget about it, she loves animals.
Val xxxx

Val
What a terrible experience. You really must report this person to the police, if she is not going to act responsibly with her dog, then she must be forced to.

If anything happened to another child you would not forgive yourself. Next time they might not get off with a torn coat, what would have happpened if she had not been wearing a coat! You do not want to walk your dog not knowing if she is likely to be around the corner either.

Regards
Sandra

Jesus Val poor you, not to mention your daughter. I am not sure what to suggest you do but what if it had been the height of summer and Steffi was not wearing a coat, which obviously protected her. The lady should definitely not exercise the bitch in a public place and the bitch has done this before to another child.

Gosh, I never thought about it...!!!!
Yes, that's very upsetting the fact she did this before. I feel like she put my children at risk by having the bitch off the lead around them, I am mad.
Val xxxx

Hello

I was just going to post about this incident being reported to the police, and Trudos echoed everything i was going to post, i totaly agree.
Dean

Hi

Hope your little girl is ok, i would report it to the police, as you said it has happened before, and if it is on record at the police station, and it was to happen again maybe something could be done.

The bitch may have been playing but next time if could be a child without a coat on or even worse the face.

This sort of thing was happening by me but the dog was biting other dogs, in the end people went to the police and it went to court and now the dog has to wear a muzzel whenever it leaves the house.

Yes, that's what my husband and a few parents said to me to tell the police, but I didn't know if they care because the bitch didn't cut Steffi? But maybe I should if they put it on record, I think I'll give them a call.
Yes, the bitch needs a muzzle, definetly. But the woman could have controled the dog with the halti I think. What's the point of having a halti if you let the dog off the lead??
Val xxxx

It def needs reporting - under the Dangerous Dogs act the dog only needs to be 'dangerously out of control in a public place' - which can mean somebody simple is scared of the dog. Please do it before another child is hurt :(

Hello everyone. I will try to find out where the woman lives ecxatly and then report it. You are right it could've been much worse. I do get flashbacks of the bitch so close to Steffi's face when she fell.
Val xxxx

Even if they wont do anything at least the incident will be logged, and put onto computer you will get an incident/crime number, at the very least they should go and talk to her.
I dont agree with letting any dog off the lead, EVER, i think (but dont quote me here) there was a certain law passed when the dangerous dogs act was enforced. Owners should have their dogs on a lead at all times in a public place, theres a few notices up in the local park by where i live stating that dogs should be on a lead at all times around the park - to ensure public safety.
Dean

It sounds to me that this dog will only get worse unless the owner step's in quick with some training. And some times it is a case of a dog having an unstable personatily even with all the training (just like some people out there too). One of my friends had a boarder collie who had a tendency to lash out and snap and bite for no apparent reason. She spent a lot of time and effort training and socialising him but without much success. He bit a child (a realative of hers )and in the end she had to have him PTS.
:-(

I agree sometimes the dog is unstable, I had one that also bit my daughter on the face and he had to go. My poor Steffi still not put off and loves animals... I think because she is so petite she was a better target, because the bitch really tried to get my son first and didn't succeed, everything happened so fast I couldn't do anything.
Val xxxx

How horrible for you all! Dont feel guilty, Val realistically we cannot protect our kids against everything, thats the scary thing about parenthood, and why the Swedes say it takes a whole village to raise a child. Woman should be in control of her dog. Glad Steffi is okay and not dogshy as a result. If the police wont do anything what about the dog warden or the papers as a last resort?

Hello Lorelei. I phoned the police and I was told to get as much info as possible about the owner. I have to go to the police station this week and listen what they have to say. I know someone who knows where the woman lives. I understand what you are saying :) but I still feel guilty. I think the whole ordeal lasted about 1 min at the most- charging the kids took about 2 sec and 1 sec switching from Liam(he jumped out the way) to Steffi. But when it was happening it seemed like the bitch was shaking Steffi for ages. You know when there's news about a dog shaking a kid like a rag doll? I couldn't believe it is really like that. Terrifying.
Val xxxx

Good you know where she lives and even better you called the police. Fingers crossed they do something about it. From what youve described there was no way anyone couldve jumped in ahead of the bitch and it shows dogs reflexes are so much faster than ours. Anyway, hope you manage to relax and replace this horrid memory with a good one. (((((())))))

So sorry to hear about your daughter. I too thought straight away that thank goodness it was winter and she had her coat on. I hope she is not too traumatised and that everything is getting better for you all.

Gina

Do NOT feel guilty about drawing this to the attention of the police. You OWE it to your daughter and other children to get this dog off the streets ......dogs of this size can kill a child easily, and believe me, if it did, you would definitely feel guilty for not doing something at the time. Please do not change your mind about this..the dog will not necessarily be pts, the police may insist that the dog is rehomed with someone who is a more suitable,responsible person. Lets face it..the woman knew that the dog is not safe with kids...if my dog ever snapped at a child I would make blinkin sure it never got the chance again (and I worshp my dog, but I know my responsibilities).

Well done for contacting the police at least you have done all you can to protect the safety of others. It must have been a terrible shock for you all - and should not be allowed to ever be repeated. Lets hope some intervention is taken for the safety of everybody that may get too near to this dog. Best of Luck - Jacky

Would you let the dog off the lead if this same incident had happened the week before to someone else??? :(
You just wouldnt forgive yourself if this had gone just one step further - what was the owner thinking???

Hi Val bad experience but so glad your little one is not hurt . Thats the trouble with crossbreeds , never can tell what the end result will be .
I do feel angry about that woman though .she is totally mad to do that after a having a prior incident a week before I could forgive her once, but not twice. she has put children at risk and that is unresponsible and criminal behavour and she needs to be told off by the law or more.
let us know the outcome Mari

What a scary thing to happen!

I'm glad your kids are ok and agree that phoning the police was the only way to go with it.

Don't think I agree it was because the dog was a crossbreed but just a poor thing who wasn't socialised or trained adequatley (sp?) for it's size :( Maybe this woman thought the halti would act as a muzzle? :rolleyes:

Once agian it's humans being stupid and the dogs who have to pay - but there's nothing else you could have done but phone the police.

Reading this post this morning I just remembered a story that hit the papers in New Zealand about 3/4 years ago.

An elderly farmer was looking after his sons two dogs (can't rembember if it was two Staffies or two Bullmastiff's or one of each) But any way, This farmer had known these dogs for many years, they had had plenty of contact and he had looked after them before on other occasions.
When the Son went to pick up his dogs the next day he found that his father had been malled to death out in his back field. No one knows exactly what happened leading up to the attack but speculation was that at some stage the old man had fallen and it was then that the two dogs attacked and killed him. This was just a rough account of what I remember from so long ago, but it just goes to show you how maybe "dogie play" can quickly turn to killing.
:-( :-( :-(

Oh Val,
what a terrible thing to happen...i do hope Steffi is ok...glad to see you have reported the woman to the police...that's what i would have done.
Don't feel guity...we have to protect our children and pets.
Karen.

Hi Val - What a terrifying experience that must have been :( What on earth was the owner thinking about, having this animal off the leash, after it had already attacked somebody previously You so did the right thing reporting it to the police, how would you feel if this bitch attacked someone else, and they weren't so lucky as Steffi? You'd never forgive yourself would you? It could have been so much worse :(
Hope little Steffi's fine, and it doesn't alter her perception of all dogs.
Sharon
XX

Hi Val,
Not much to add really other than to agree with the other posts. Hope little Steffi is OK. Sometimes I think all dog owners should have to prove their fitness to own a dog beforehand. Like a driving test? Let's face it, a dog, no matter how fantastic we think they are, can be a lethal weapon in the the wrong hands. I'm a first time dog owner, but am trying my best. Sparky is only 6 months, and soft as can be, but can be jumpy and is not always reliable on recall - so he is still on a long line when we go anywhere we are likely to meet people. End of story. He is the only one on the park with anything like this attached, but I am happy to put up with the smug and puzzled looks I get from people who I inevitably see two weeks later chasing after their dogs, or apologising to joggers, parents with children etc. Peace of mind to know I can reel him in if I see kids approaching, etc. How anyone with an aggressive dog like the one you met can take chances like this is beyond me.
Tracy